If I could, I would....

... furnish my entire apartment with finds from the Meeker St. Flea Market.


I don't know where we'd put this (or how we'd get it up the stairs) but how could I not entertain the idea of a retro-bar in our kitchen.


Upstairs is where you find the real treasures.


I want this chair-


This telephone table/chair/cat-hide-away -


And this cabinet set.





And even the things I have absolute no use for are enticing (that last one is a mortician's table).


Part of me wants to believe I'd have use for this but it would probably just end up collect dust.


The best though has to be the collection of dis-guarded paintings downstairs, apparently all by the same hopeful artist. This is the best and also the most unfinished. It's still there if any of you want to color it in.

Mickey-san!!!

One of the greatest assets I had working as an ALT in Japan was dozens and dozens of handmade karuta cards.

Popular in most Japanese schoolyards, karuta cards can be used for any number of various games, the most popular (at least amongst ALTs) being the 'Recognition' type games (you teach them the alphabet, spread out the cards, each with a letter, and then watch as the kids fight over the 'B' when you call it out).

I had all sorts - animals, shapes, fruits, etc. - but I never had any as awesome as these! Found at a suburban Tokyo flea market by a fellow gaijen (though I'll confess we've never met), these cards seem to have been made for me. Japan + Animation + Yokai!


Mickey seen here getting along quite well with one of the hundreds of various Japanese spirits.


And here again, in quite different company. Apparently "ano ne no ossan" translates into something like "Mr. You Know Who." I won't make any assumptions, but the mustache is certainly suspicious.

Mickey is joined by a few other recognizable characters (Japan, well outside Disney's jurisdiction, tends to 'borrow' from them a lot).


Donald Duck, with neighboring "American Soldier".


Pop-Eye and Tarzan make a rather unexpected appearance, though I'm sure these were in circulation well before "Stitchu" won the hearts of all pre-teen schoolgirls.


And there's been no end to the appropriation of characters as you can see from this 1980's menko card featuring E.T. alongside 2001's Discovery.

Flea Circus

Popped in the flea market on 25th St. yesterday half-heartedly in search of mounted fish and blue dresses. Came up empty-hand in both areas but still had a fun time snapping pictures (please excuse any blurriness; most of these were taken with my cellular telephone).


Freeze! NYPD!


I don't know what's worse, the empty blackened eye-sockets or the wire wound around it's neck...


As the granddaughter of a noted family doctor, I had my fair share of strange 'doctor/patient' themed gifts. Luckily, I missed this one.


Blue dog...


I don't know. Maybe I'm seeing things but this image just looks a bit un-wholesome to me.


Enough said.

One booth had these great wood pieces, designed, carved and painted by David Kirk before he hit it big in children's book industry. Each was signed and dated. If I happen upon them again, I might just pick one up as a gift for the new children's library my mom will be moving into.


These two caught my eye first. Opening the drawer would trigger the eyes and teeth to move.


Great bank. The eyes and mouth would open when you pulled on a bone at his feet. Coins go in his mouth. Try this on your own dog to get the some expression.


If I had more money, this might have come home with me. But, alas, spending was limited. First of two purchases...


I know what you're thinking, how 'Sex in the City' of me. I've never successfully sat through an entire episode of that drivel. My second purchase was a bit less superfluous.


The illustrations by Wallace Goldsmith were what caught my eye first. The writing is fun to boot.


Most pages are printed on watermarked paper, too, which makes for a nice effect.


The End.